Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Infrastructure

How manufacturers can go wireless to unleash unlimited possibilities

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By Oliver Wang, product marketing manager, edge connectivity and computing, Moxa

Where it’s difficult to hardwire industrial operations to ensure time to market, industrial wireless LANs (WLANs) provide an ideal alternative to traditional wired Ethernet LANs.

Indeed, recent advances in wireless technology have contributed to industrial WLANs becoming commonplace solutions in automotive plants, warehouses, and transportation systems, among others, where automated equipment is required that is constantly moving or difficult to wire.

Industrial WLANs enable these types of systems to be connected for enhanced operational efficiency. [Read more…] about How manufacturers can go wireless to unleash unlimited possibilities

TinyMobileRobots celebrates marking 1 millionth sports field

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Denmark-based TinyMobileRobots, a provider of fully autonomous GPS line-marking robots, has officially marked its 1 millionth sports field, culminating in “savings of approximately 1.6 million hours, $102.5 million and 1.5 million gallons of paint” for its rapidly growing customer base across three continents.

The landmark moment occurred in Dallas, Texas with FC Dallas, who manages 20 soccer fields. They have been using TinyMobileRobots’ solution for four years.

TinyMobileRobots can autonomously mark lines for virtually every type of sports field, including soccer, American football, baseball, lacrosse, softball and more. [Read more…] about TinyMobileRobots celebrates marking 1 millionth sports field

Kollmorgen relocates to new premises in Sweden

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Kollmorgen, a manufacturer of motor solutions for the robotics industry, is relocating to new premises in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The move is part of a strategic initiative to meet the future demands for automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots, by expanding the business and increasing the innovation and development capacity.

The company says the relocation will increase speed of innovation and development, and improve training experience for partners and end-users. [Read more…] about Kollmorgen relocates to new premises in Sweden

T-Mobile to implement 5G smart city infrastructure in Peachtree Corners

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Peachtree Corners, which claims to be one of the nation’s “first smart city environments powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G”, says that T-Mobile, Applied Information and Temple are introducing 5G-connected vehicle technology that enables traffic signals to communicate with any vehicle on the road via a revolutionary mobile app.

Brian Johnson, city manager of Peachtree Corners, says: “As another strong reflection of Peachtree Corners’ leadership as an innovative smart city in the United States, we’re excited to offer smart connected infrastructure relevant to our citizens, city employees and visitors by enabling any vehicle to receive communications from 5G-connected traffic signals.

“Cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology isn’t just a concept here, it’s a reality that all people can experience just by downloading an app on their smartphones. [Read more…] about T-Mobile to implement 5G smart city infrastructure in Peachtree Corners

NHTSA Opens Investigation into Tesla Vehicles Over Game Feature

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The National Highway Transport and Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently launched investigations into Tesla’s 580,000 vehicles over its passenger game feature capabilities at the center of its dashboard.

However, the video game capabilities on Tesla vehicles are not a new feature. It has existed in all Tesla models released between 2017 to 2022, including models 3, S, X, and Y. [Read more…] about NHTSA Opens Investigation into Tesla Vehicles Over Game Feature

John Deere opens new ‘automation and autonomy’ innovation hub in Austin, Texas

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Deere & Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural and forestry vehicles, is expanding its US footprint and technology operations with a new office in Austin, Texas.

Deere says the new location enables it to further strengthen its technology capabilities and attract talent interested in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges – including feeding a growing population.

Jahmy Hindman, Chief Technology Officer at John Deere, says: “Austin is a growing destination for some of the brightest minds in technology. Opening this office was a strategic decision from both a talent and collaboration perspective, particularly in software and data analytics. [Read more…] about John Deere opens new ‘automation and autonomy’ innovation hub in Austin, Texas

NTT training robots to become data center workers

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NTT, the national telecommunications provider of Japan and one of the largest such companies in the world, is training industrial robots to become data center workers.

The company has a separate business division for data centers called Global Data Centers and says its global platform is “one of the largest in the world”.

Its data centers tend to be huge facilities and are “expensive to run”, mostly because of the massive amount of electricity necessary and the cooling infrastructure, not to mention the sheer floor space required. [Read more…] about NTT training robots to become data center workers

Volvo, Daimler, and Traton partner to build high-performance charging network

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Europe’s three leading commercial vehicle manufacturers – Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and Traton Group – have signed a binding agreement to create a joint venture to install and operate a high-performance public charging network for battery electric, heavy-duty long-haul trucks and coaches across Europe.

As previously publicised, the parties are committed to initiating and accelerating the necessary build-up of charging infrastructure for the increasing number of customers of electric vehicles in Europe and contribute to climate-neutral transportation in Europe by 2050.

The joint venture creation is subject to regulatory approvals. [Read more…] about Volvo, Daimler, and Traton partner to build high-performance charging network

BMW invests in HeyCharge to increase electric vehicle charging points at residential locations

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BMW i Ventures took a lead investment in HeyCharge, the German start-up providing electric vehicle charging stations in apartment complexes, office buildings and other infrastructure locations.

HeyCharge was in Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 batch of start-ups.

Kasper Sage, managing partner, BMW i Ventures, says: “The rapid growth of the electric vehicle market in coming years will necessitate greater infrastructure build-out of charging solutions around the globe. [Read more…] about BMW invests in HeyCharge to increase electric vehicle charging points at residential locations

General Motors to invest $7 billion in Michigan facilities to ramp up electric vehicle production to 1 million units

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General Motors says it will invest more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, creating 4,000 new jobs and retaining 1,000, and significantly increasing battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity.

This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing and the conversion of GM’s assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra, GM’s second assembly plant scheduled to build full-size electric pickups.

Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO, says: “We are taking the next step in our continuous work to establish GM’s EV leadership by making investments in our vertically integrated battery production in the US, and our North American EV production capacity. [Read more…] about General Motors to invest $7 billion in Michigan facilities to ramp up electric vehicle production to 1 million units